Based on personal experience the Marantz phono s/n ratio is more than adequately quiet, and it's power more than capable of driving Magnepans.
Modern amp solution for Magnepan 2.7QRs with bluetooth and phono stage interfaces?
Time for a new amp.
Magnepan recommends high current, 4 ohm, class A/B amp that comes close to doubling output from 8 to 4 ohms. I would indeed like to keep hearing the full dynamic range with full bass capabilities.
24x18 room with 9’ ceilings, so moderate power should suffice. Perhaps 100 into 8 ohms and 200 ish into 4.
Is there a list of recommended amps for maggies?
Recommended units or additional components with phono stage and modern streaming interface?
New (ish) preferred, but my mind is open.
Thanks,Grokkin
Magnepan recommends high current, 4 ohm, class A/B amp that comes close to doubling output from 8 to 4 ohms. I would indeed like to keep hearing the full dynamic range with full bass capabilities.
24x18 room with 9’ ceilings, so moderate power should suffice. Perhaps 100 into 8 ohms and 200 ish into 4.
Is there a list of recommended amps for maggies?
Recommended units or additional components with phono stage and modern streaming interface?
New (ish) preferred, but my mind is open.
Thanks,Grokkin
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I see that the P6 Halo Preamp and the A23+ could be "the $3000 solution." It looks like the P6 Halo preamp is now on clearance, which may foretell the coming of a P7 soon? Any other recommendations for separates for the Maggies that would combined come to under $3000? Really want that doubling from 8ohms to 4ohms with low distortion. Suppose I could go with a separate DAC and phono stage if the bass quality at low to moderate volumes were excellent. |
If you get separates, which often work better with Magnaplanars, then what you need would be a power amp for the speakers, and the bluetooth and phono functions could be handled at the preamp level. But any preamp would do fine if a bluetooth receiver is used (they are inexpensive). You would then apply its outputs to one of the line level inputs of the preamp. |
The Hint 6 is class A-A/B. Bang for the buck, at this price point, hard to go wrong. Or look at the P6 and A23+ for similar money. https://parasound.com/hint6.php |
Thanks! I’ll check them out. Would definitely consider an Integrated Amp if it fit the bill. Humbled by the past year, the budget does matter. It’s been so long since I bought an amp, I am surprised to find so few class A/Bs out there, and how much true quality will cost me. Alas, another reference amp seems out of range right now. D’s abound, and the salespeople suggest things like the new Marantz 30 with the phono interface. At first blush, power and distortion seem great. Then I look at signal to noise and find 88, which is far below what I would expect on a $2,500 solution, which I think is my practical limit right now. Magnepan’s understandable mantra about high current A/B and "crickets" on D’s seems like a caveat emptor that I should listen to. So then I start thinking about used separates since that’s where the affordable quality 4 ohm A/B stuff really is. Money is so tight that I am cautioned by all the things older gear may have been exposed to. Possible long-term humidity, dust, excessive use and just normal wear and tear make used gear seem pretty risky. Some are power hungry or run hot and heavy, and mine will need to sit on a 7/16" glass shelf! Just my luck I’d find a used MacIntosh or some such that needed service. Who to trust for quality and properly serviced used gear? I’ve always had separate components for the Maggies, but with my changing music sources (was 50% vinyl and 50% CD) now 50% vinyl, (Mitsubishi LT-30 with a Pickering SXV 5000) 10% CD and much more iphone and ipad. To my ear the Apple signals are pretty good and not as lossy as many digital sources even if dynamic range data and format variability are all over the map. I figure I might as well upgrade my preamp/interface as well. Separates can introduce their own issues, and dynamic range and a high signal to noise really matter to me, as music factors profoundly in my life. As with great music, lots of my favorite stuff has come from friends and experts. Hoping that will work for components, too. I just want to keep the old Mitsubishi and Maggies relevant and not be able to tell I can’t afford another reference amp right now. Thanks again. M |
I'll take a swing since nobody else is. I think you are asking about an Integrated Amp. If that is the case I would do my digital processing outboard because things are still changing fast in the digital world. I've had good luck with Musical Fidelity Integrated amps and Magnepan loudspeakers. Plenty of others to choose from but the MFs are little workhorses. |